Updated: January 18, 2018

A WELFARE CHECK OF A TWO YEAR OLD LEADS TO THE ARREST OF A WESTPOINT MAN ON DRUG, FIREARM AND CHILD NEGLECT CHARGES.  ACCORDING TO REPORTS, DEPUTIES WITH THE LAWRENCE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED OUT TO A RESIDENCE ON HARDIN LOOP LATE LAST WEEK TO CHECK THE WELL BEING OF A TWO YEAR  FEMALE.  UPON ARRIVAL, DEPUTIES DISCOVERED THE RESIDENCE WAS A SHED LIKE STRUCTURE AND COULD SMELL MARIJUANA.  WHEN DEPUTIES MADE CONTACT WITH THE OCCUPANTS, THE SMELL OF MARIJUANA GREW STRONGER.  UPON FURTHER OBSERVATION THE BUILDING WAS DEEMED UNLIVEABLE AS THERE WAS NO RUNNING WATER AND THE ELECTRICITY WAS BEING RAN BY A GENERATOR.  THERE WERE ALSO COOLERS OUTSIDE THE SHED IN WHICH THEY KEPT THEIR FOOD.  MARIJUANA WAS FOUND IN A CONTAINER.  DEVIN TRAXLER, 30, WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND FACES CHARGES FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE VI FOR RESALE, POSSESSION OF A FIREARM DURING THE COMMISSION OR ATTEMPT OF A FELONY AND POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.  THE MOTHER AND THE CHILD WERE TAKEN TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WHERE A YOUTH SERVICE OFFICER TOOK THE CHILD INTO CUSTODY AND SPOKE WITH THE MOTHER.